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I shuffle backward, but in my haste to get away from him, my hand lands on a boot. My eyes shift up to find King Kylian standing above me, watching the lycan. “Touch her, and it will be your neck I break next.”

The man stalks off, slamming the doors open as he leaves. King Kylian steps back, reclaiming his seat at the table as if nothing happened. His nonchalance stirs more fear within me.

“Are we talking trade?” King Kylian begins, raising his goblet lazily. “Or is one human woman enough to cut business short?”

The corner of King Zander’s mouth curls, glancing between us. Another man who sees me as an object to barter with. “Let’s finish what we started. I want your new pet out of my face.”

CHAPTER 14

• Alessia •

THE VAMPIRE KING turns his attention to me, and I stare at him, paralyzed by the power and undeniable magnetism that pulls my gaze.

King Kylian clears his throat, his legs opening slightly. I dare a glance upward and realize he’s pointing to the space between his knees. He wants me to sit at his feet? Like a pet?

“When you’re told to move by a king, you move,” a voice murmurs next to my ear as someone grabs my arm and hauls me upright, dragging me closer to the Vampire King.

“Thank you, Eagan,” he says, yanking me down to kneel between his legs. Shoulders tight, I sit, but not by choice.

Then his fingers touch my hair. Just a stroke, a casual petting that sends a jolt of shock through me while he discusses trade with the Lycan King. I sit awkwardly at his feet, my arms aching from being pulled tight behind my back.

After a few minutes, the pain has become unbearable, and the weight of his heavy cloak puts more strain on my tired body. I squirm, trying to relieve the pressure, my fingers throbbing from the lack of blood flow. King Kylian’s fingers tangle in my hair, jerking my head back.

“Why do you keep squirming, little mortal?” he demands, causing the entire room to fall silent. I don’t say anything, not wanting to provoke the monster. “Well, are you going to speak?”

King Zander laughs. “Your pet is already giving you trouble, Kylian.”

“Are you simple?”

“Well that will make torturing information out of her interesting. If she is mute, what will you get her to do, mime you the answers? I hope you’re good at charades.” King Zander and his guards laugh.

“I can speak, you stupid mutt.” The entire room falls deadly silent, and a chair scrapes across the ground. King Kylian makes a sound that almost seems amused.

“What did you call me?” King Zander growls, and I tense, wishing I could take the words back. Footsteps stomp closer, and my whole body braces for the consequences of my outburst.

“Calm down, Zander. There’s no point in chasing your own tail over one small human.” I am ripped upward and forced to stand between King Kylian’s legs. He lets out a menacing sound. King Zander stops his approach mid-way down the table.

“If you want to keep that thing alive, I suggest you get it to shut up, or she will be mute once I remove her tongue,” King Zander snarls.

My mouth instantly shuts, my teeth clenching at the thought. Then the room spins around me, and I find myself straddling King Kylian’s lap. I gasp at the position and the impossible speed in which the Vampire King manhandled me.

“You’ll apologize to King Zander,” he growls, his eyes holding mine in warning. I gulp, and the cloak on my shoulders falls open, giving him a clear view of my nakedness beneath. “You’ll apologize, or I may put that mouth of yours to use some other way.”

Tears prick my eyes, my face heating, and I glance at King Zander, who comes to stand beside us. I drop my gaze to King Kylian’s chest. “Forgive me, my king,” I murmur, my entire body trembling as I lock my legs on either side of King Kylian’s thighs, scared of being ripped away from the only man in the room who wants me alive.

“Hmm,” is all the Lycan King says while I try to steady my breathing, my focus solely on the buttons on King Kylian’s shirt. King Zander wanders back to his seat, seemingly pacified by my apology.

King Kylian’s hands slide inside his coat and down my arms to my wrists at my back. He tries to hook his finger beneath, and I whimper when he can’t.

“If I remove these, you will not fight me.”

Not that I would stand a chance if I did.

“Do you understand, little mortal?” I nod, and King Kylian holds out his hand toward his guard. “Who has the key?” He looks at one of the Lycan King’s guards, who makes no move to give it to him.

“You would uncuff her after she tried to kill you?” King Zander asks.

“I highly doubt she is a threat while naked on my lap.” King Kylian clicks his fingers. Someone moves closer. “Eagan, undo her cuffs.”